The perfect beach read. I loved the Hamptons setting. The depiction of young, Summer love was everything. If you are looking for a Carrie Soto is Coming Back + a love story that withstands the test of time, then this is for you.

There were plenty of nods to Persuasion which I really liked and the setting was lovely. But as one other reviewer noted, this was more like a 5th chance romance and that gave this novel a soapy quality that isn't to my taste.
It's a good beach read though.

Summer After Summer
Author : Lauren Bailey

Pub Date : 7th May -2024 @alcovepress

Tennis MC
Summer and Beach Vibe
Second Chances
Romance and Heart Breaks

Summer after Summer is a beautiful story of Olivia and Fred, their story starts when they were teenagers during the Summer break. They instantly connect and fall for each other, but there is always something that keeps them away. Sometimes its family, sometimes its destiny, sometimes its misunderstandings.
When they separated first time, Fred said that he will be at the same spot after 5 years to see if destiny still connects them. Rejected by family for marrying Fred at 18 Olivia wants only now to concentrate on her Tennis career. Little did she know that 5 years later she will again connect with Fred and their hearts which never separated will again beat with the same intensity. But 5 years and destiny has something else planned. They again go different ways.. and reconnect after 5 years.. with now things taking dramatic turns..
Every-time they meet at the gap of 5 years they meet during the Summertime with destiny playing its tricks!!
Will these two be able to find their Summer together forever????
This story flows like a beautiful summer afternoon. The story line is solid and so is the character development. The twist at the end is what makes this book special. i mean a love story with a twist.. who doesn’t like it…

Enjoy this book! Highly recommended..

QOTD: Do you like Summer Romance?? Or did you had a teen crush?? ♥️

AOTD: I love romance in every season.. 🫶🫶 and yeah I had a teen crush 😜

A retelling of Persuasion? Say no more! We need more modern retellings of this classic story -- and SUMMER AFTER SUMMER by Lauren Bailey is the perfect book to pave the way! This was so good -- definitely add it to your summer TBRs for 2024. It's going to be a hit!

The main character returns to her family’s Hampton beach home for a final time. She has come home to help pack the house up. She discovers her old boyfriend purchased the home and things began to happen. The story is a really good read. A great beach read for the summer.

PERFECTION!!! Thank you NetGalley, Lauren Bailey and Alcove Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

OH MY BEATING HEART!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED AND ADORED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW THIS IS THE AUTHOR'S DEBUT NOVEL!?! TO SAY I AM IMPRESSED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!! WHAT AN WONDERFUL, EMOTIONAL, HEARTWARMING, POWERFUL, COMPLICATED, MEANINGFUL AND BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN MODERN RETELLING OF JANE AUSTEN'S CLASSIC PERSUASION!! THIS WILL PULL AT YOUR HEARTSTRINGS SO HAVE YOUR TISSUES HANDY!! 😭🤧LAUREN BAILEY HAS CREATED SUCH A TOUCHING SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE WITH SO MUCH DEPTH AND CHARACTERS WITH REAL LIFE STRUGGLES AND RAW EMOTIONS. IT IS FILLED WITH FIRST LOVES, FATE, FAMILY, FRIENDSHIPS, LOSS, HOPE, DECEPTION, HEARTBREAK, COURAGE, PASSION, TENSION, CHEMISTRY AND SPICE!! THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS THAT WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE FEELS AND STAY WITH YOU FOREVER! LITERALLY, EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY WANT IN A BOOK AND MORE!!

Olivia is returning to her family home on the beach in the Hamptons to help her father and sisters pack up the family estate. Moreover, she needs time away from her cheating (soon-to-be) ex, Wes. When Olivia arrives home, she discovers that the buyer is her first love, Fred, who she met 20 years ago at the age of 16. He is the love of her life but things have always been complicated for them and the timing never seemed right. At this point, Olivia fears it was never meant to be so there's no reason to feel butterflies in her stomach a the idea of seeing him again. However, she is not the same person she was the last time she saw him and Fred has changed too. This time things will be different, maybe, just maybe, fifth time's the charm!?!

I was completely captivated from beginning to end! Honestly, I thought this delightful story was just perfect! If you're a fan of Emily Henry then you will love this book and I cannot recommend it enough!! ALL the stars!!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ah, January! A time when the chill in the air makes us reach for warm blankets and cozy reads. Let's dive into "Summer After Summer" by Lauren Bailey, a book that brings a touch of summer warmth to these frosty days. Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC and this delightful escape.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Hamptons, "Summer After Summer" is a contemporary nod to Jane Austen's "Persuasion," woven with the threads of lost love and second chances. We meet Olivia Taylor, grappling with a failing marriage, as she returns to her family's beach house, brimming with memories and echoes of a past romance with Fred, her first love. The narrative skillfully flits between past and present, revealing the intricate dance of Olivia and Fred's relationship.

Lauren Bailey's debut novel is a testament to her ability to craft relatable characters and emotional depth. Olivia's journey is one of self-discovery, and her character resonates with authenticity, making her struggles and growth feel real and touching. Fred, as a foil, evolves throughout the story, adding layers of complexity to their rekindled connection.

The pacing of the novel, however, has its ebbs and flows. Initially leisurely, mirroring the languorous days of summer, it picks up speed as the story progresses. This gradual build-up may test the patience of some, but for those who persevere, the reward is a rich, emotionally resonant narrative.

As a beach read, the book hits all the right notes with its vivid Hamptons setting and the ease of its prose, perfect for those seeking a mental getaway. However, the dialogue occasionally feels a bit forced, and the on-again, off-again dynamic between Olivia and Fred might be seen as repetitive. Yet, these elements are offset by the heartwarming moments and the overarching theme of hope.

In conclusion, "Summer After Summer" is a charming tale of enduring love and the twists and turns of fate. It’s a solid four-star read that provides a much-needed reminder of warmer days during these colder months. It’s a book that says sometimes love deserves a second, or maybe a fifth, chance.

It was pleasant and breezy. Overall, I thought some parts were a bit hokey and overdramatic but it was a good beach read. Just please change "Long Island Parkway" on page 1 to "Long Island Expressway." It is very famously the Expressway not the Parkway and if you want it to be authentic you should get it right.

Summer After Summer was the sweetest story. I felt like I was being wrapped in a warm hug. I recommend!

An enjoyable summer read with all of the tropes that we have come to enjoy (beach house, old love, family in trouble). Well written, sympathetic characters and a happy ending- pack it up for your next trip to the beach!

This book definitely can pass as a decent beach read. If you are looking for an easy read while sitting poolside or lake side you likely won’t be disappointed. I found the book dragged and I got the same kind of feeling I have with soaps on tv - i could not watch for a month and wouldn’t miss a thing!

If you are an avid reader this one may not be for you.

It's hard to go wrong when a romance novel has beach houses, old flames, and memories. Summer after Summer, by Lauren Bailey, has all these and more.
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Long-simmering affection that takes place over two decades in the glamorous Hamptons with an interesting twist late in the story that reveals the true colors of several of the characters. Breezy read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

This novel is about Olivia and Fred who met and fell in love as teenagers in the Hamptons only to meet again years later when Olivia is helping her family move out of their Hampton home. The story is told in two timelines and I felt that I enjoyed the timeline when Olivia and Fred first meet more than the timeline of the present. In the present, Olivia and Fred don't exhibit much chemistry and their banter is rather weak.

I can see this as a decent summer read but not something that is going to change your world.

Im a sucker for second chance romances between teenage first loves. It's my favourite trope so I had to grab this one. It's advertised as a modern retelling of Persuasion - my favourite Jane Austen novel as well. It has everything I love in this trope - a beachy summer house setting, teenage love, a past and present timeline that slowly reveals the complicated history of the main characters. I enjoyed the story and read it in a day ! - my only critique is that it was more like a 5th chance romance. These characters came together and broke apart so many times it made me sad for all the wasted time. Definitely a great summer read for 2024!

Lauren Bailey is a debut author who packs a punch, a wonderful story about family, loss and taking another chance on love!
The main character is failing at her marriage, facing the loss of her family home and also confronting her past.
The storyline is cleverly written to give intriguing detail of the character’s history and emotional connections. I particularly enjoyed the personal growth, the relationship evolution and the very real emotional struggles faced.
Readers will enjoy the journey of second chances at love, trust and happiness, a wonderful must read!

Congratulations to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this wonderful debut story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ARC!

I like the idea of this book, and enjoyed the alternating timelines. However, most of the characters (including the FMC and MMC) frustrated me, and I was not a fan of their personalities or actions, which put a damper on the story for me.

There are some plot holes, mistakes (I spotted a couple of instances where names were switched around), grammatical issues and spelling error, but hopefully those smaller things will be fixed before the public release.

Overall, I think this book was a bit slow, and the banter wasn’t my favourite (but I’m usually not a fan of insta-love, so maybe that’s why). Story has potential and I loved the tie in with tennis… gave me Carrie Soto vibes! While I didn’t quite enjoy the book overall, still have to congratulate the author for her debut novel… it’s a big accomplishment!

This book started off slow. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to finish it, slow.

Thankfully I kept going because about 3/4 of the way through the book it took off and I couldn’t read fast enough!!

This book takes you on a wild ride of betrayal, love, romance, loss, and rekindled love.

I loved the character development but I feel like the back and forth with the will I be with Wes or Fred was just too slow and went on for too long. There needed to be something more to the story in the beginning/middle to keep the reader engaged.

I adored this book! What a fun and engaging read! I got a little bit of whiplash at the end when everything quickly tied up, but I enjoyed the stories and the characters!

I adored Olivia and Fred’s story. The flashback style for writing their story perfectly wove their history together with the present. You cannot help rooting for the two of them to finally get their timing right. The other characters add a depth to the story. The added twist at the end was a perfect cherry on top of this delightful romance. It was a quick read and a lovable story.